6 Less Common Side Hustles That Fit Perfectly Into a 9-to-5 Schedule
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Finding a side hustle that actually works around a full-time job is harder than it sounds. Most of the typical suggestions require you to be available during business hours or grind away every evening until you burn out.
But there are some genuinely flexible options that don’t involve driving for Uber or answering emails at midnight. Here are some creative side hustles you can realistically manage while working a regular job.
1. Mock Juror for Legal Cases
Law firms and attorneys need to practice their arguments before real trials, and they pay people to sit on mock juries and give feedback. These sessions usually happen in the evenings or on weekends, and you can pick which ones fit your schedule.
The work involves listening to case presentations and deliberating with other mock jurors, just like a real trial. You’re essentially getting paid to give your opinion on whether an argument is convincing. Sessions typically last a few hours, and the pay varies but can be worthwhile for an evening’s work. You can earn between $20 to $150 per case.
You sign up through companies that recruit mock jurors, and they contact you when cases match your demographic profile.
2. Stock Photo and Video Contributor
This one takes advantage of time you’re already spending taking photos or videos. Every time you’re out on the weekend hiking, traveling or even just around your city, you can shoot content that sells on stock photography sites.
The income is passive once you upload your work. People license your photos and videos for websites, marketing materials, and publications and you get paid each time. It won’t make you rich overnight, but photographers who build up libraries of hundreds or thousands of images can generate steady side income without ongoing time investment.
3. Creating and Selling Digital Templates
If you’re good with spreadsheets, Notion, Canva or similar tools, you can create templates once and sell them repeatedly. Think budget trackers, meal planning templates, social media graphics, resume designs, or project management dashboards.
The work happens entirely on your own time. You build the template, list it on marketplaces like Etsy or Gumroad, and earn money while you sleep. Popular templates can sell hundreds or thousands of times, and once they’re created, your only ongoing work is occasional customer questions.
4. Teaching English Online to International Students
Many platforms connect native English speakers with students in other countries who want to practice conversation. The schedules are flexible because you’re often teaching students in different time zones, which means early mornings or late evenings in the U.S. can be prime teaching hours abroad.
You don’t need teaching credentials for conversation-focused platforms. You just need to be a native or fluent English speaker who can hold an engaging conversation. Sessions are usually 30 minutes to an hour, and you can book as many or as few as you want each week. You can make between $10 to $40/ per hour doing this.
5. Flipping Thrift Store and Estate Sale Finds
You can spend Saturday mornings hitting thrift stores, garage sales or estate sales looking for valuable items you can resell online. Then you list them during the week whenever you have a few spare minutes.
The key is learning what sells well and what to look for. Some people focus on vintage clothing, others on collectibles, books or home goods. Once you know your niche, you can spot valuable items quickly and build a profitable flipping business that doesn’t interfere with your day job.
6. Refereeing or Umping Youth Sports
If you played sports growing up, you can get certified to be a referee or umpire in youth leagues. Games typically happen in evenings during the week and on weekends, so they don’t conflict with a 9-to-5 schedule.
The pay is decent for a few hours of work, and you’re getting exercise instead of sitting at another desk. Most sports have relatively quick certification processes, and leagues are often desperate for referees. Once you’re certified, you can pick up as many or as few games as you want based on your availability.
This works especially well in spring and fall when youth sports seasons are in full swing. And, according to Zip Recruiter, you can make between $23 to $30 an hour doing it.
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